Tosca-opera reviewJanuary 29, 2015

Brian Jagde photo: Todd Rosenberg

Opera ReviewJanuary 29, 2015 Tosca by Betty Mohr A suspenseful and thrilling opera, Tosca offers heightened theatricality that grabs one’s attention from beginning to end. A masterpiece by composer Giacomo Puccini (who also gave the world La Boheme and Madama Butterfly) this Tosca is as pitch perfect as opera gets. A new production by the Lyric Opera of Chicago, it is such an extraordinary presentation that the audience couldn’t wait until the final curtain to voice its approval. Indeed, the Lyric audience rose to its feet at the end of the first act to give thunderous applause to American tenor Brian Jagde. They were yelling “bravo” for Jagde’a dazzling, golden-voiced performance as Mario Cavaradossi, the artistic revolutionary, Jagde soars as the lover of the beautiful diva Tosca, portrayed by compelling Tatiana Serjan who delivered a stunning soprano. The two, playing the opera’s lovers, made beautiful music together and garnered show-stopping raves from operagoers throughout the production; and baritone Evgeny Nikitin was terrific in a cold and chilling portrait of the villainous Baron Scarpia, the strong-man politician that you can’t help hating. As elegantly directed by John Caird, the story of Tosca is a riveting cliffhanger. Here you have the beautiful Tosca, her handsome lover Cavaradossi under the crosshair of Scarpia, a politician consumed by a desire for power and control that has no limits. He hates Cavaradossi, not only because the young man disagrees with his totalitarian tyranny, but also because he is loved by Tosca. Scarpia wants to seduce Tosca and will walk over dead bodies to do so (and since this is opera that’s exactly what he does). In addition to a dazzling vocal triangle, the Lyric’s production features Puccini’s glorious musical score that soars under the Lyric’s exceptional orchestra led by Dmitri Jurowski in his Lyric debut. Furthermore, the chorus led by chorus master Michael Black; and the terrific children’s chorus, led by Josphine Lee were in delicious harmony.

Brian Jagde, Tatiana Serjan p: Todd Rosenberg

The glorious noir-style opera is being presented by two casts. The first, which is the one I saw on opening night, will run through February 5 with featured performances by Jagde, Serjan, and Nikitin. The new cast of Jorge DeLéon as Cavaradossi, Hui He as Tosca, and Mark Delavan as Scarpia will perform the opera from February 27 through March 14, 2015. One concern regarding the second production is Delavan’s take on his portrayal of Scarpia. In an interview, the baritone expressed a curious analysis of the character he will play. He says that Scarpia is “an arch-conservative but one who doesn’t understand the purpose of the law, which is to protect and to serve. For anyone who is given authority, the temptation to abuse that authority is overwhelming.” Delavan appears to understand that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” but attributing this to an arch-conservative is perverse. Power lusters are statists who desire an all-powerful government, which is totally the opposite of what small government, pro-liberty conservatives favor. The first-cast presentation of Tosca is so through-the-roof fantastic that I can’t imagine that the second will be better. For that reason, I recommend that opera lovers rush to see Tosca on stage right now.Tosca When: Through February. 5, and then opening again with a different cast February 27-March 14, 2015.Where: Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, ChicagoTickets: $34-$244Information: Call 312.827.5600 or visit www.lyricopera.org